Silica Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization and Applications in Biomedicine

Abstract

A rapid and effective methodology has been developed in order to obtain silica nanoparticles which are broadly characterized by various techniques including electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy, determining their charge via electrophoretic mobility, and zeta potential measurements. The ability of nanoparticles to incorporate distinct active ingredients, 5-fluoruracil and two UV protectors (Neo Heliopan BB and Eusolex 232), has been studied in order to verify (among other parameters) the effectiveness of their encapsulation and the most appropriate conditions for carrying out this process. The obtained nanoparticles were found to have an ideal size for administration via different means and a zeta potential that indicated their good stability.